Sports

AUSTIN — A cool and rainy spring means that despite above-average summer temperatures, Texas hunters could encounter significantly increased dove populations as the 2023 season opens Sept. 1.

Spring surveys conducted by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff found an estimated 28.3 million mourning doves in Texas, a 44 percent increase from 2022.  White-wing dove populations have increased 20 percent, tying the record high with an estimated 11.7 million this year.

The Canadian Wildcat football teams will scrimmage the Panhandle Panthers this evening—Thursday, August 17—in Panhandle. The action begins at 5 pm with the JV squad, and at 6 pm with the Varsity Cats. The first game of the season will involve a road trip to Seminole, Oklahoma, on Friday, August 25, for a 7:30 pm kickoff. The JV Wildcats will have their season opener at home on Thursday, August 24, versus the Sunray Bobcats. Kickoff time for that game is 5 pm.

The Canadian Wildcat Booster Club and CHS Spirit Club are sponsoring a Spirit Parade for Homecoming on Wednesday, September 6, at 6:30 pm. The route will begin at the Hemphill County Courthouse, continue up 6th Street, and end at the newly christened Chris Koetting Field.

School board trustees voted Tuesday evening to name the field at Wildcat Stadium in honor of Canadian’s head football coach and athletic director Chris Koetting.

Koetting announced his retirement at the end of the 2022-23 school year, citing health issues that have affected his cognitive abilities, and his desire to spend more time with his family.

AMARILLO – Panhandle Breast Health (PBH) will host the Third Annual Tee Off for Tatas Golf Tournament beginning at 1 p.m. Sept. 17 at Comanche Trail Golf Course. The fee for a 4-person team is $500. All proceeds benefit PBH’s life-saving mission of decreasing breast cancer deaths by increasing mammography rates.

Canadian senior-to-be Luke Flowers is making the most of his time in the best way possible during the summer.

While most high school athletes travel on vacation or do summer camps, Flowers has spent the majority of his days giving back to the youth of Canadian through his first ever Way of the Wildcat Leadership and Skills Football Camp.

Canadian Lady Cats Softball Coach Cay Parnell this week reported several honors awarded to her players and announced at the close of the school year after playoffs ended. Sophomore Lilly Bradford was named All-District First Team infielder, and earned Honorable Mention on the Amarillo Globe-News Super Team. Four Lady Cats earned slots on the All-District Second Team: Senior Leah Moreno as pitcher, Junior Kenzie Flowers as catcher, and Freshman Shyann Blair and Junior Miranda Nunez as outfielders. Moreno also earned honors on the Academic All-State team.

Just-retired Canadian High School Athletic Director Chris Koetting will be honored as the 201st inductee into the 65th Annual Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame. A ceremony will be held at 2 pm on Sunday, June 11, at the Grand Plaza of the Amarillo Civic Center.